Deal curbing Iran nuclear drive to take effect Jan 20

TEHRAN: A landmark deal that curbs parts of Iran's disputed nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief will take effect from January 20 Tehran and Western powers said Sunday.

US President Barack Obama welcomed the news but warned there was still a rough road ahead to clinch a comprehensive deal.

Western nations and Israel have long suspected Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons capability alongside its civilian programme charges the Islamic republic fiercely denies.

Tehran agreed in November to roll back parts of its nuclear work and halt further advances in exchange for the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets and limited relief from sanctions that have choked its economy.

The deal was a major achievement for President Hassan Rouhani who won a first round electoral victory over a pool of conservatives last year by vowing a more diplomatic approach with the West after eight years of stalled talks and escalating sanctions under his hardline predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Both sides reached the same interpretation on how to implement the agreement and the first step will be executed from January 20, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said quoted by IRNA news agency.

The White House confirmed the news. Beginning January 20th Iran will for the first time start eliminating its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium and dismantling some of the infrastructure that makes such enrichment possible it said.